A technically astounding but otherwise completely inept record. The songwriting is atrocious; each track consists of seemingly random riffs jammed one after another with no attempt at cohesion. The mix is bad; the guitars are too quiet, the vocals too loud. And, speaking of the vocals, Lord Worm's performance... he returns here after a multi-year break from the band, and, honestly, I think he does a pretty good job. None of None So Vile's insanely low vocals are here, but the rest of his repertoire is (the massive scream that closes "Adeste Infidelis"). Once Was Not can be summarized as such: great musicianship, poor everything else.

My largest issue with this album is that the drums are way too loud in the mix and they drown out the guitars. Other than that, Once Was Not employs an unconventional approach (for Cryptopsy) to song writing and structure.

Once Was Not seems to have started a trend. In the 2000's, unassuming, lagging death metal seemed to work its way to popularity, seemingly after the release of said Cryptopsy album. Technicality does take this album a step higher, but it's still a compilation of dragging, unassuming songs that rehash the old and doom the new.